H aRRgh!! http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/ The daily dilemmas of a human resources officer en Copyright 2008 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:51:15 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Evidence in Bullying Case Mounts Up As is often the case when such a situation arises, more people are coming out of the woodwork to complain about the individual who was accused of bullying last week.
 
A couple of these simply back-up what has already been said, but one has added a further disturbing twist to what is already a messy situation.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/08/evidence-in-bullying-case-moun.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/08/evidence-in-bullying-case-moun.html advances bullying disturbing evidence harassment inappropriate sexual suspension touching twist Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:51:15 +0000 Another Day, Another Disciplinary Whilst the investigation into the bullying case continues, another significant disciplinary situation has arisen in the company.
 
Like the bullying case, this could prove fatal for the individuals career at our company...
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/08/another-day-another-disciplina.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/08/another-day-another-disciplina.html client disciplinary disgusted embarrassed fatal ignored investigation lie mislead negligence Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:57:40 +0000 Bullying Case provides an unwelcome return to work After 2 weeks off work enjoying a well earned (I think) bit of relaxation and sunshine, I had hoped to break myself in gently today.
 
No such luck unfortunately. Apart from the 312 emails that I came back in to, within 2 hours I found myself taking a very serious complaint from an employee.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/08/bullying-case-provides-an-unwe.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/08/bullying-case-provides-an-unwe.html bully bullying complainant complaint consequence genuine serious unwelcome Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:05:14 +0000 Document Saga Rolls On The saga of the document checks rolls on, with no signs of abating.
 
Today there seemed to be a coordinated effort by a few employees to constantly email me protesting about the planned checks.
 
As much as I tried to ignore them, I quite like a good argument so couldn't resist putting my factual point of view across...
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/document-saga-rolls-on.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/document-saga-rolls-on.html argument checks contract document email factual frenzy pacify saga Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:10:39 +0000 Internal Barriers to Document Checks The last couple of days at work have been 2 of the most frustrating that I have had to endure since starting with the company.
 
As we are due to apply for a sponsership licence so that we can continue to bring skilled immigrant workers in to the company, we are trying to get our 'house in order' with regard to the checks that we should be doing as an employer.
 
After years of neglect from the previous HR administration, it's a fairly sizeable task. In order to avoid any discrimination, we are obviously asking to see the appropriate documents from all employees, regardless of nationality.
 
It's here that our problem lies.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/internal-barriers-to-document.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/internal-barriers-to-document.html bia checks discrimination document immigrant immigration passport sponsership licence Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:25:50 +0000 The Truth Comes Out A couple of weeks ago, a junior member of our department left for pastures new.
 
At the time, we were all fairly sorry to see her go as she seemed to be good at what she was doing and generally a very popular character.
 
As it turns out, she was exceptionally good at what she was doing... not an awful lot and then covering it up.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/the-truth-comes-out.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/the-truth-comes-out.html cover up exceptional incensed leaver neglect neglected popular reference Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:25:48 +0000 HR taking the lead in cutbacks As reported last week, the current economic climate has started to have implications at work.
 
Firstly we were told that recruitment was indefinitely on hold, and now every department has been told to come up with measures to save 3% on their budget for this financial year.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/hr-taking-the-lead-in-cutbacks.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/hr-taking-the-lead-in-cutbacks.html budget climate cost cutback economic indispensible lead saving Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:03:23 +0000 Employee Opinion Survey Results: Already Proving Useful? After some intensive inputting all of the results of our employee opinion survey are now logged.

The analysis will be done over the next week, but it's fair to say that some problems have already been identified.

]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/employee-opinion-survey-result.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/07/employee-opinion-survey-result.html analysis confidential employee information input obstacle opinion source stress survey Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:24:04 +0000 Contract Renegotiation: Not for the Faint Hearted I've had a fun morning renegotiating a contract with an external labour provider.
 
These things are never easy, but they can be very rewarding and fun in there own special way, and today was certainly no exception.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/contract-renegotiation-not-for.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/contract-renegotiation-not-for.html bonus contract disappoint fun negotiation renegotiation rewarding saving Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:15:39 +0000 The Opinion Survey Feedback starts to flood in... With only a week to go before the deadline to hand in responses to our opinion survey, the responses are starting to flood in.
 
Many have provided some potentially useful feedback, and we have already started throwing ideas around to deal with some of the issues that have been raised.
 
Some responses, inevitably, have not been quite so helpful...
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/the-opinion-survey-feedback-st.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/the-opinion-survey-feedback-st.html complain deadline dislike feedback health moronic opinion response safety survey Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:15:31 +0000 Hard Times Ahead? The 'Credit Crunch' leads to a recruitment freeze Despite a record year in terms of financial performance, all is not well here.
 
As with many companies, the global credit crunch is starting to have an effect.
 
As of today, we've been 'unofficially' informed that no recruitment will be sanctioned for the foreseeable future, as a downturn in sales is underway.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/hard-times-ahead-the-credit-cr.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/hard-times-ahead-the-credit-cr.html credit crunch debt downturn financial freeze performance record recruitment sales Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:38:31 +0000 A Great Excuse for Non-Notification of Absence I had to sit down with a young gentleman today who had broken company rules regarding notifying us whilst absent.
 
He had been off for a week, and only called in on the Thursday, when he should have called in every day (the only reason he called on the Thursday was because we had phoned him on the Wednesday).
 
The purpose of the meeting was to establish whether there was a valid reason that may mitigate any potential disciplinary action, but it quickly became apparent that there was not.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/a-great-excuse-for-nonnotifica.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/a-great-excuse-for-nonnotifica.html absence disciplinary excuse late mitigate non-notification rules snotty warning witness Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:27:59 +0000 Employee Satisfaction Surveys: More Trouble Than They're Worth?
The yearly ritual of handing out these surveys and then ignoring what comes back on them is getting somewhat tiresome, but there is always the slim hope that this year will be different.

However, given the response to our notice that the survey will be out this week, I hold out little hope of that...
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/employee-satisfaction-surveys.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/employee-satisfaction-surveys.html announcement defaced dissatisfaction employee noticeboard opinion satisfaction survey Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:21:06 +0000 Tip for Application Forms: Stick to the Truth! 'Apprentice', we discovered a couple of days ago that an employee who has been with us for just over a year told a lie on his application form in order to gain a job with us.

Needless to say we have not been at all impressed by this revelation. I for one do not take too kindly to being made to look stupid.

Therefore the individual concerned was hauled in to a disciplinary meeting with his manager and I today.
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/tip-for-application-forms-stic.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/tip-for-application-forms-stic.html application apprentice disciplinaries disciplinary form lie professional revelation sack warning Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:53:06 +0000 HR vs The World: Is an aggressive stance the way forward with other departments? What a day.
 
It started off with 3 quick-fire disciplinaries for people who have flouted the rules on absence.
 
As our absence rate is particularly high at the moment, we're eager to make examples of anyone who crosses the line that is made clear in our company handbook.
 
Some of the managers in other areas aren't too keen on punishing some of their team members, but we're not in the mood to allow anyone to take advantage.
 
This mood was further displayed with a new policy that we instigated today...
]]> http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/hr-vs-the-world-is-an-aggressi.html http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/human-resources-diary-h-arrgh/2008/06/hr-vs-the-world-is-an-aggressi.html absence cancellation charge course disciplinary handbook policy rules training Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:49:37 +0000